Where Does Body Image Come From?

Friday, November 30, 2012

Body image is all about how you see and judge your body. Chances are good that there are things about your body you really like and probably some things that aren’t your favorite. If you find that you are mostly focusing on the things you don’t like about how your body looks, you may have a negative body image. We get both positive and negative messages about our bodies all the time.

Here are some common sources that can affect how we view our bodies:

Television, magazines, and movies

Comments about how you look from family, friends and even strangers

Worrying about whether others will think you’re attractive

Comparisons to other people —like your sister, best friend or even your former self, 10 to 20 years ago

Changes to your body because of aging, menopause, illness, or disability

Emotions like feeling unhappy or depressed

Everyone feels self-conscious, awkward, or ashamed about their bodies from time to time —even “skinny” people and people who are at their “ideal” weight. But when these feelings are how you usually feel about your body, it can take a toll on your confidence and how you take part in the rest of your life. The good news is that there are things you can do to improve your body image.